Trial for 2009 killing begins next week

Quintien O’Brian Surratt

By Rebecca Clark

Published: Monday, May 13, 2013 at 10:54 PM.

SHELBY — On a foggy December morning in 2009, Christopher Parrott was shot and killed at his Marion Street home. Days later, two Cleveland County teens were arrested and charged with his murder. A third man was later tracked down, arrested and charged. All three were 18 years old. Beginning next week, Quintien O’Brian Surratt, now 21, is scheduled to be tried for Parrott’s murder. The two others involved, Jonavan Lewis Hopper and Trumane Daurice Jefferies, previously pleaded guilty and are serving time in prison. Surratt is being held at the Cleveland County Detention Center with a $500,000 bond. In addition to murder, he is also charged with robbery with a dangerous weapon, conspiracy to committ robbery with a dangerous weapon and breaking and entering. Sally Kirby-Turner, assistant district attorney, will prosecute the case. “We are looking forward to beginning the trial,” she said. “It’s been three and a half years.” Doug Hall, of Hall & Hall Attorney’s at Law in Morganton, will be representing Surratt.

Others tied to the crime Jonavan Lewis Hopper pleaded guilty on June 10, 2011, to second-degree murder, possession of a firearm by a felon and robbery with a dangerous weapon, according to the N.C. Department of Correction. Now 22, he is currently serving a nearly 27-year sentence. He has a previous 2007 conviction for common law robbery. Trumane Daurice Jefferies, 21, pleaded guilty to the same charges as Hopper in June of 2011. He is also serving a 27-year sentence, according to the N.C. Department of Correction. Jefferies’ past criminal record includes felony breaking and entering and assault on an officer. Reach Rebecca Clark at 704-669-3344 or rclark@shelbystar.com.

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SHELBY — On a foggy December morning in 2009, Christopher Parrott was shot and killed at his Marion Street home.
Days later, two Cleveland County teens were arrested and charged with his murder.
A third man was later tracked down, arrested and charged.
All three were 18 years old.
Beginning next week, Quintien O’Brian Surratt, now 21, is scheduled to be tried for Parrott’s murder.
The two others involved, Jonavan Lewis Hopper and Trumane Daurice Jefferies, previously pleaded guilty and are serving time in prison.
Surratt is being held at the Cleveland County Detention Center with a $500,000 bond.
In addition to murder, he is also charged with robbery with a dangerous weapon, conspiracy to committ robbery with a dangerous weapon and breaking and entering.
Sally Kirby-Turner, assistant district attorney, will prosecute the case.
“We are looking forward to beginning the trial,” she said. “It’s been three and a half years.”
Doug Hall, of Hall & Hall Attorney’s at Law in Morganton, will be representing Surratt.

Others tied to the crime
Jonavan Lewis Hopper pleaded guilty on June 10, 2011, to second-degree murder, possession of a firearm by a felon and robbery with a dangerous weapon, according to the N.C. Department of Correction.
Now 22, he is currently serving a nearly 27-year sentence.
He has a previous 2007 conviction for common law robbery.
Trumane Daurice Jefferies, 21, pleaded guilty to the same charges as Hopper in June of 2011.
He is also serving a 27-year sentence, according to the N.C. Department of Correction.
Jefferies’ past criminal record includes felony breaking and entering and assault on an officer.
Reach Rebecca Clark at 704-669-3344 or rclark@shelbystar.com.